Just Ask Jim: Hilton Head’s Sweetest Stops
This post kicks off our new “Just Ask Jim” series — where owner and island local Jim Hall shares his favorite Hilton Head finds, from can’t-miss routes to hidden gems worth the ride.
You’ve heard of pub crawls, dine-arounds and progressive dinners. But what could be sweeter than touring Hilton Head’s top spots for desserts, frozen treats, and confections? To make it easy, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite places to indulge and are sharing them here.
As we always say, the best way to experience Hilton Head is from the back of a bike, and visiting the island’s sweet spots is no different. In fact, you can hop on one of our guided e-bike tours, like the beach bum tour or history and nature tour, and expect a stop at Hilton Head Ice Cream – the first location on our list below.
So get your spoon ready, and let’s go!
Hilton Head Ice Cream
Like its name implies, this eatery makes real, homemade, award-winning ice cream using high-quality cream and the same butterfat content used when it originally opened 35 years ago. With a variety of traditional as well as unique flavors like Chocolate Cayenne, Cookie Monster, and Peach Pecan, there’s a perfect taste for every palate.
Chocolate Canopy
Since 1982, the Chocolate Canopy has been creating chocolates and confections to fulfill the sweetest needs of any appetite. From chocolates in the shapes of local characters like alligators, crabs, flip flops, and starfish to a variety of pralines, truffles, and clusters, and so much more to try – the Chocolate Canopy is the place to shop for gifts, including those you give yourself.
Hilton Head Social Bakery
Voted best bakery, this local gem features all-natural French baked goods made from scratch every day. Led by Chef Philippe Feret and co-owner and wife Marissa, the bakery offers a range of pastries, more than 10 fresh fruit tarts, macarons, shortbread cookies, and plenty of choices for more savory pairings. Twice as good, there are now two locations to choose from – Shelter Cove and South Island.
The Ice Cream Cone in Coligny Plaza
With 78 hand-scooped flavors as well as soft serve and vegan options perfect for the homemade waffle cones, this local staple has been serving the island since 1971. A few of our top choices include Krazy Cookie Dough, Bourbon Pecan, Key Lime Pie, and Caramel Turtle Cheesecake, as well as gourmet flavors like Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Honey Roasted Peanut Butter, and Cappuccino Crunch.
MilkShake Factory
For those searching for something more sippable, enjoy your ice cream in a glass at the MilkShake Factory. With numerous locations throughout the country, this sweet stop has a long history rooted in chocolate. From a 1950s soda fountain to the milkshake shop of today, this is where you’ll find signature and gourmet items like the Chocolate Cake Shake, Caramel Toffee Cappuccino, Mint Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter Brownie, and many more, including several classic flavors. There are also plenty of non-dairy and “not shakes” treats to sample.
The Island Fudge Shoppe
When a confectioner has “shoppe” is in the name, you know it’s going to be good. This is the place to stock up on island favorites like saltwater taffy, pecan pralines, and homemade toffee. And of course, you must try the fudge, which comes in an array of enticing flavors like salted caramel, birthday cake, penuche and raspberry truffle.
Whether you decide to create your own tour or join one of ours, your sweet tooth will be satisfied after you pay a visit to any (or all) of these flavorful locations.